The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

HEALTH

BODY & MIND
Yet one more good reason to go vegetarian
Tripti Nath

Getting it right: A meat-based diet can undermine our basic instincts.

Mumbai-based People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), has released a thought-provoking advertisement to draw the attention of meat-eaters to the adverse effects of a non-vegetarian diet. The advertisement shows a man sitting up in bed next to woman and looking at himself in utter frustration. The tag line reads, “Eating meat got you down? Get it up. Go vegetarian!” This is guided by a research, which has shown that artery-clogging cholesterol in meat and other animal products can lead to impotence. Meat-based diets have also been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers.

An international organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of all animals, PETA is also concerned about the health and lives of animals raised in a cruel manner an killed for food. PETA Chief Functionary, Anuradha Sawhney says, “We want people to use veggie viagra-vegetarian cooking in the kitchen for a spicy time in the bedroom.”

Oncology conference

As many as 40 general physicians and 50 cancer specialists are expected to attend an oncology conference (ONCOCON-3003) at Hotel Inter Continental here on Sunday. The conference is being organised by Delhi Medical Association. Dr S.H. Advani, former Head, Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital, Mumbai will chair the conference.

The prime objective of the conference is to train general physicians about the day-to-day problems faced by cancer patients. ONCOCON will be followed by a series of public interest lectures on cancer. The first lecture in the series will be held at DMA House, Daryaganj at 6 pm on Sunday. The lectures are being organised by Delhi Medical Association in association with Cancer Mystiques.

According to Dr Sameer Kaul, Senior Consultant Cancer Surgeon at Indraprsatha Apollo Hospital, “New research indicates that cancer is preventable and in most cases, curable if detected early. About 80 per cent of victims seek treatment only at the third or fourth stage when little can be done.

We were encouraged by the outcome that our event, Cancer Mystiques had yielded in April last year. We aspire to achieve an awareness level so high that people don’t just read and talk about cancer but actually come forward to get themselves screened more seriously.”

Statistics show that ignorance and poverty are proving to be the worst carcinogen ceators. The third leading cause of mortality in the 15-45 age group, cancer is spreading fast and some seven lakh new cases are reported every year.

DMA President, Dr S.C.L Gupta says, “By 2015, two-thirds of all cancer cases are projected to occur in the developing world and half of these shall die each year.

We are convinced that the biggest hurdle in our fight against cancer is the lack of awareness among the masses. This session is part of an ongoing effort towards spreading awareness.”

Lyco Red soon

Delhi-based Jagsonpal Pharmaceuticals Ltd is all set to expand the reach of Lyco Red, a drug that has the proven quality to combat a host of ailments and diseases, including infertility, cancer, diabetes, arthritis, cataract and heart disease. Lyco Red derives its name from Lycopene, a pigment that has strong anti-oxidant properties.

Studies suggest that consumption of food rich in lycopene is associated with a lower risk of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease. The drug has got a tremendous response in Canada, Europe in USA. The company’s specific research on LycoRed has shown that the synergy of natural tomato Lycopene with other ingredients in LycoRed provides greater health benefits to people.

According to Mr Ravindra Kumar, Head Business, Re-engineering, Lyco Red will be available throughout the country by the beginning of the next financial year.

DMA office-bearers

Dr Vijay Kumar Malhotra and Dr Ramesh Dutta have been elected State Secretary and Finance Secretary of the Delhi Medical Association in the annual election held recently.

Dr Malhotra is a member of the East Delhi branch of the Indian Medical Association and has served DMA as Finance Secretary at State level and President, Secretary and Finance Secretary at branch level (IMA Esat Elhi branch) also. Dr Ramesh Dutta is a member of the West town branch. The other office bearers are Dr Rajiv Ardey and Dr Rajiv Garg (Honorary Joint Secretaries), Dr Shashi Jangid, Dr G. L. Arora and Dr N. R. Lasker, Honorary Assistant Secretaries, Dr V. K. Narang (Honorary Editor, Journal), Dr Jeewan Joshi (Associate Editor, Journal) and Dr Ajay Gambhir (Associate Editor, DMA bulletin).

Free stone and prostate detection

The R.G. Stone Urological Research Institute is organising a free stone and prostate detection camp at Dr Pankaj Soni’s clinic in Chittaranjan Park on Sunday. Persons attending the camp can avail of tests as PSA, Uroflowmetry and Ultrasound free of cost.

Drug-eluting stent

A new drug-eluting stent was formally launched in North India by the Army Hospital (Research and Referral), Delhi Cantt. A product of Boston Scientific, the stent ‘Taxus’ provides a revolutionary way of fighting resteonosis. The stent was used to open the proximal Left Anterior Descending artery of a serving JCO by a team of cardiologist led by the DGAFMS, Lt Gneral B.N. Sahi.

The drug-eluting stent is covered with a polymer carrier, which delivers the drug paclitaxel to the artery vessel wall. Paclitaxel is a multi-functional drug, which acts on the restenotic cacade. The drug is embedded in the polymer carrier and released in a controlled manner over a period of time. According to Mr Sanjiv Chopra, Managing Direcoir, Boston Scientific India, “We strongly believe that the right combination of the right delivery strem, the right stent, the right polymer and the right drug delivered in the right dose makes the TAXUS stent an unmatched ally in the battle against coronary artery disease. Boston Scientific will work closely with the medical community to bring this new treatment alternative to Coronary Artery Disese (CAD).

CAD affects approximately 12 per cent of the population in India and is the leading killer disease. CAD affects the arteries, which surround the heart. These coronary arteries supply blood with oxygen to the heart muscle to make it function properly.

CAD occurs when the inner walls of the coronary arteries thicken due to a build-up of cholesterol, fats, calcium and other elements carried in the blood. This build-up is called plaque. As the plaque develops, the vessel narrows and blood flows through the centre of the vessel becomes restricted. This condition, atherosclerosis, may lead to chest pain or a heart attack.

Check-up camp

Jan Sewa Sangathan, a voluntary organisation, organised a medical check-up camp at Kallar Pak, Durga Park and Naseerpur on Saturday and Sunday. While the heart check-up camp was organised with the help of Escorts Heart Institute, a free eye camp was organised with the help of Lions Club.

The following day, a team of 13 doctors and nurses from Apollo Hospital checked about 250 persons. Besides, 42 doctors from skin, ENT, gynaecology, neurology also examined the patients.

SPORTS

Hindustan down Manipur Police
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 29
Delhi Senior Division League champions Hindustan Club edged past Manipur Police 2-1 in the final phase of the second Division National Football League played at Jamshedpur, according to information available in Delhi.

Hindustan Club, despite enjoying territorial supremacy, wasted many good scoring opportunities, and they had to wait till the fag end of the first session to forge ahead. Mid-fielder Subash Negi nicely placed the ball home, after Parishtosh Sharma sent a measured cross from the right flank.

On changing ends, the Manipur Police players fought back to score the eaqualiser through inside-left Sonam Singh in the 57th minute. Sonam dodged past Hindustan defenders Satnam Singh and Pushpender Kundu to hit the mark.

Hindustan then mounted pressure on Manipur Police through their Nigerian import Abdul Seriki, whose services have been taken on loan from Mohammedan Sporting Club of Kolkata. But Seriki failed to cash in on the chances that came his way, and Hindustan were in fact lucky not to concede any more goals as their goalkeeper Biswajeet Halder effected a few brilliant saves.

Eventually, Seriki did the spadework for the Hindustan match-winner when his cross from the right flank was given the finishing touches by Sameer Jung (2-1).

Hindustan had lost their opening match against Mohammedan Sporting at 1-4, and take on Haward Club of Goa on March 31.

Najafgarh Club win in Rajdhani Cup
Our Sports Reporter

New Delhi, March 29
A strokeful half century by Dhiraj Saxena and a fiery 3 for 32 bowling spell by Gaurav Vashisth helped hosts Najafgarh Club beat Shubham Club by two runs in a league match of the second Rajdhani Cup Cricket Tournament at the Najafgarh Sports Club ground.

Scores: Najafgarh Club: 159 all out in 34.2 overs (Dhiraj Saxena 52, Rishi Kumar 50, Parvinder Singh 4 for 37, Ashok Kumar 3 for 12).

Shubham Club: 157 all out in 34.4 overs (Shammi Vadhwa 62, Parvinder Singh 35, Bharat Rishi 3 for 23, Mahender Kumar 3 for 27, Gaurav Vashisth 3 for 32).

KPMG beat Motorola

KPMG defeated Motorola by 44 runs in the Reebok Cricket Tournament, with Tapan Sikdar playing an all-round role. Tapan was adjudged the man of the match.

Scores: KPMG: 192 for 7 in 25 overs (Preet Singh 61, 4x7, 48b; Tapan Sikdar 54, 4x6, 6x1, 52b; Jiten Chopra 21, 24b, 4x2; Puneet Mishra 2 for 29, Ganesh Guruswami 2 for 41).

Motorola: 148 for 7 in 25 overs (Manish Singhal 41, 4x2, 6x2; Ranjit Jha 40, 4x5; Anil Bansal 3 for 30, Tapan Sikdar 2 for 22).

In another match, HP defeated Ericsson by 66 runs to qualify for the pre-quarter-final stage.

Scores: Hewlett Packard: 190 for 3 in 25 overs (Sandeep Tikku 57 n o, 4x6, 6x1, 39b; Deeraj Mehta 53, 4x5, 54b; Vivek Dwivedi 35, 4x3, 33b; Sandeep Gulati 2 for 27).

Ericsson: 124 all out in 21.3 overs (Atul Dutta 28, 32b, 4x1; Sanjeev Sharma 2 for 8, Sandeep Bhel 2 for 9, Vishal Arya 2 for 13). Sandeep Tikko was named the man of the match.